Tourists Are Taking Too Many Bear Selfies

It’s one thing to get close to nature, but this is too close for comfort.

In California, tourists are being warned by the Forest Service against taking selfies with bears. Yes, you read that right. Tourists in California are attempting to get so close to bears that they can snap a quick bear selfie.

“Human interaction with bears at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center during the Kokanee salmon spawn has reached an unsafe level.”

On the one hand, it’s great that so many people are excited to visit the natural environment of these majestic, powerful creatures. On the other hand, bears are considered wildlife for a very good reason. They are wild.

Supervisor Nancy Gibson says:

We can’t have visitors creating dangerous situations for themselves and others. People are risking serious injury or death if they get too close to a bear.

For centuries, if not since the dawn of time, people have loved connecting with nature. This connection is a large part of what drives sportsmen, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts the world over. At some point, though, respect for apex predators must be issued.

Snagging a selfie with a bear is not worth placing one’s life in jeopardy, no matter how many “likes” you get.